Spacer device for beehive frames



Patented llliec. 2n?, llEZi miams rei' SIF

ROY LTTLFFIELD, 0F EXRA, IIOWA.

SPACER DEVICE FR EEEHIVE FRAMES.

Application led March 13, 1922, Serial m0543291'.

To ZZ whom 'it may conce/m:

VBe 1t lrnown that i, Bor Lir'rLnrInLn, a

citizen of the United States, residing at` Flxira, in the county of Audubon, in the State of iowa, have invented a certain new and useful v Spacer Device for Beehive Frames, of which the following is a specilication.

The object of my invention is to `provide. spacer devices for bee hive frames, which are of simple, durable `and comparatively inexpensive construction.y

More particularly myinvention relates to a device wherein the frames for containing honey within the supers of the bee hives,

may'be easily and equally spaced apart.

ln this connection it may be mentioned that the honey is deposited by the bees in frames, which are hung within the supers. lt is extremely necessary to space the frames from the walls of the supers and to space the frames from each other in order to prevent the bees from gluing the frames together or so connecting the frames together, by the honey and wax, as to make it impossible to easily remove each of the frames.

A further object of my invention is to provide a pair of members having spaced projections thereon, arranged to be received between the frames for causing them to be equally spaced from each other.

V7 ith these and other objects in view my invention consists in the construction, ar-` rangement and combination of the various parts of my device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a super of a bee hive with my improved spacer devices shown therein.

Figure 2 is a perspective View of one of my spacer devices.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure l is a sectional view taken on line i-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Figure 1; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the honey containing frames.

In the accompanying drawings, l have used the reference numeral 10 to indicate generally a super which has its end walls super 10.

Shoulder 12. Designed to rest upon the `shoulder are the honey containing frames :i which have the ends of the upper por- :ion project outwardly from both the sides of the iframe, whereby the sides of the frame will be spaced from the end walls of the A number of frames 13 `are placed within the super 10, and my invention, which l" now describe is designed to position the will frames relative to each other. l provide a `Y`lrovided with rabbets 11 so as to form aA pair of members 111 and 15 which are used for spacing the frames apart. rl`he member 1li and the member llare each provided vwith a number of spaced projections 16. Each of the spaced projections are curved from front to rear asiat 7.

The projections valso have rtheir sides position shown in Figure 1 of the drawings.`

The tilting of the member 1li permits the sharp edges of the projection 16 to iirst be received between the frames 13. The turning of the member 1e forces the frames 13 to be spaced equally apart, due to the fact thatthe projection 16 will be received there between. f

The member 15 has its ends project out beyondthe side walls of the super 10, so as to form the hand engaging portions 13. In the practical operation of my spacer device, the member 14 is placed in position near one end of the frames 13. The member 15 is then placedy adjacent to the member 14: and drawn in the direction indicated by the arrow 19, to the opposite ends of the frames 13. .Each of the ends ofthe frames 13 'will then be properly spaced apart.

The members 14; and 15 will then be removed and the ordinary cover lfor the super is placed in position. rlihe arrangement for spacing the frames 13 is very desirable, due

that the bees would glue the cleats and trames together "with the honey or Wax.

After the raineslo' are once'properly set there is no movement which mightv cause the frames to be shifted. rThe spacer devices 14 and 15 may be placed at each end ot' the iframes 13 When the honey containing` frames and supers are moved 'from place to place, as is necessary when the honey'is to be eX- tracted from the frames. The spacing device will prevent the trames from coming together when they are illed With honey while being transported. p

lt 'fill be seen that myv spacing :devices are veryf simple and yet are very effective for properly spacing *the honey containing frames apart.

Some `changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts oi" my device Without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention and it is my intention to cover by my claims, any modified ornis of structure of use of mechanical equivalents, which may be reasonably included Within their scope.

l claimV as my invention:

l. ln combination with a bee hive super and honey containing frames arranged loosely therein, means for equally spacing said frames from each other, said means including a pair of members having projections iormed on one or their sides, whereby one of" said members may be placed at one end of theiframes with the projections received therebetween and the other capable of' being` drawn from one end of said frames to the opposite end thereof for equally spacing the frames, one oi?- said members having its ends project out beyond the sides of the super for serving as handles.

2. ln combination With a bee hive super and honey containing viframes arranged loosely therein, means 'for equally spacing the frames from each other, said means including spaced proj ect-ions formed on one of their sides, said projectionsA being` curved from liront to rear and fromA side to site so as to form Wedge shaped portions, said projections being designed to kbe received. between the honey containing frames Jor normally spacing,A them apart,l one of said pair oi members havingits ends project outu oeyond the sides or" the super whereby they may serve as hand engaging elements ttor permitting it to be drawn lengthwise of the Jtrames for equally spacing` them. as specified.

Des Moines, loWa, `lilebruary l5, 1922.

` RGY LITTLEFELD. 

